Kids’ book series aims to ease hospital experience

WHAT began as a passion project for Bendigo Health medical imaging technologist Jess McInnes has seen her emerge as an Amazon best-selling author and illustrator.

So far she has published two books, with more expected, under the Little Radiology series, which came about after she began looking for ways to help young patients understand the different scans they were undertaking at Bendigo Health.

The topic of the first book, What is an X-Ray?, is self-explanatory, while the second, The X-Ray Place, covers the broader practices that take place within a medical imaging department.

She said she initially thought creating stickers for her patients was where her creative process would begin and end.

“I started with stickers and fully expected to be giving (them) out every so often, but once I made about 20, I realised I’d made a whole character set and thought I’d turn them into a book,” she said.

Ms McInnes has plans to write more editions to explain what an ultrasound is, what a CT scan is and what an MRI is, as well as an activity and colouring book. She said putting the series together has helped with the way she works with patients.

“It really makes me think about the words that I choose and how I first approach a child in the waiting room,” she said.

“The way you do those things can really make or break the x-ray.”

“Even if it helps calm one kid down and helps them understand a little bit more, it makes it easier for us.”

The two books are available on the Amazon website.